The contest is co-sponsored by The Post-Standard.
Contestants will be judged in five groups:
Group 1: Kindergarten through third grade
Group 2: Fourth and fifth grades
Group 3: Sixth through eighth grades
Group 4: Ninth through 12th grades
Group 5: Adult
Entries may be submitted by any person who is not an employee of The Post-Standard or a member of the National League of American Pen Women.
There is no entry fee for Groups 1 to 4. Entries in Group 5 should be accompanied by a check, payable to the National League of American Pen Women, for $5 per poem, with a three-poem limit.
All entries must be postmarked no later than Feb. 18.
Submission guidelines: Groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 may submit one original, unpublished poem of 20 lines or fewer. Group 5 may submit up to three original, unpublished poems, each of 20 lines or fewer. Please keep copies of poetry; no poems will be returned.
Each poem must be typewritten or printed, single-spaced, on one side of white, 8 ½- by 11-inch paper. Identification, including name, address and phone number, must be typed or printed only on the back side. Groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 must include date of birth, age, school and grade at the time of submission. All entries in all age groups must include a signed statement on the back side as follows: This poem is entirely original and not copied from any source. Signed (entrant's name).
Entries not prepared according to these rules will be automatically disqualified.
Mail Groups 1 and 2 to Sheila Byrnes, 3622 Whispering Woods Terrace, Baldwinsville, NY 13027.
Mail Groups 3, 4 and 5 to Mary Gardner, 2411 Wave Way, Skaneateles, NY 13152.
Winners will be selected by a panel of professionals. If judges deem no entry in a group worthy, no award will be given in that group.
All winning entries will be read at a ceremony at 10:30 a.m. April 9, at the Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St. Winners or their authorized representatives must be present to receive their awards.
For more information, contact Mary Gardner at mlgardner37@yahoo.com
More information here.
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